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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- highcourtofecowas01@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Chief Judge Sulieman Akin <oraziogaleazzo@tin.it>
Reply-To: highcourtofecowas01@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2014 11:35:49 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Regarding Your True Fund
FROM HIGH COURT OF ECOWAS RB BRANCH:
B/OP/1234 PLOT AKPAKPA, COTONOU BENIN REP.
OUR REF.CODE: BSEL/773/AWN/021/09
E-mail; highcourtofecowas01@yahoo.com
Dear friend
We know this might came to you in a surprise but we have a case on our
desk which has been going on here in this Ecowas High court regarding
your True Payment of Ten Million and five Hundred United State And we
are hereby to know the truth because A man called Dr.Lamido and his
many groups whom is in charge of your transaction said in this
court that you have received your funds and confirmed to them that you
received your funds as cheque.
Please we are here to know the truth from you, because according to the
all president of the Ecowas , they told us that you did not receive
your funds since last year , he stated that his office did not have
your name in their file of those who received their inheritance funds
from Africa.
Please here below is what we want you to answer to enable us to handle
this case normal as the reporter said that it has been done to you.
(1) Do you receive any money from Africa. . . . . . ?.
(2) If you received money from him, how much. . . . . . .?
(3) Through which way, bank or courier do you received the money from.
. . . .?
(4) Did you send any money to Africa in the past or present..?
(5) If yes that you send money to africa like about how much have you
paid...?
(6) In which date or year. . . . . . . . . . . .?
(7) Which authirity approve the file . . . . . . . . . ??
(8)Your full correct Name.?
(9)Country
(10)Current occupation
(10):Cell Phone Number.
(11)Copy of your ID card Or Driver Liscences?
Your reply is needed
Thanks.
Chief Judge Sulieman Akin
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Anti-fraud resources:
